Gov’t urged to apply full force of law vs hoarders

Sen. Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Bam Aquino called on the government on Tuesday to apply the full force of the law on hoarders of rice, garlic and other market products, saying they must be “severely punished” for their illegal acts that resulted in sudden prices increases.

“Hoarders of rice, garlic and other products must be punished to the fullest extent of the law. Their illegal act has resulted in higher prices, placing additional burden on our consumers,” Aquino, chairman of the Senate committee on trade, commerce and entrepreneurship, said in a statement.

“The recent success against hoarders should serve as warning to those who are still doing it. The government is serious in going after those who compromise the public’s interest for their own profit,” he said.

Roxas and Pangilinan recently led the inspection and raid of several warehouses where they discovered that NFA rice were being repacked and sold as commercial rice.

The campaign led to the confiscation of an estimated 4,000 metric tons of rice and the filing of charges against a company for violation of Presidential Decree No. 4 for diversion of price and price manipulation under the Price Act.

”If found guilty, hoarders face five to 15 years imprisonment under the Price Act,” Aquino said.

The senator then pushed for the passage of the Fair Competition Act of 2014, which he said would end monopolies, cartels and other trade practices that affect businesses, especially the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The passage of the proposed measure, Aquino said, was “long overdue since the Philippines is one of only few countries that don’t have a competition policy that will protect its consumers and private industries.”

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